Human rights report 2008
26 Mar 2009
The Foreign Secretary launched the eleventh annual report on human rights on 26 March 2009. The report reflects the range of work the FCO does to promote human rights worldwide.Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, launched the eleventh annual report on human rights on 26 March 2009 at an event attended by an audience of NGOs, academics and journalists. The report reflects the range of work the FCO does to promote human rights worldwide.
Read the full report [pdf]
Human rights cut across all of the FCO's policy goals; counter-terrorism and weapons proliferation; the promotion of a low carbon, high growth economy; prevention and resolution of conflict; and the development of effective international institutions. Our report reflects this. Human rights provide a set of standards and an international framework though which all our foreign policy can strive to be conducted.
A particular focus for the 2008 Report is the protection and promotion of the rights of women and children. There are separate features on these issues in the Report. They are also further highlighted in countries featured in the 'Major countries of concern' chapter, where our work is focused on these areas.
This chapter covers 20 countries of concern, countries where human rights is of particular interest to the Government, where we are particularly active, or where there is a need to shine a spotlight on serious concerns.
It is not a league table of what we see as the worst offenders. There are other countries whose human rights records also concern us and they are covered throughout the report. But it gives the opportunity to focus on those that attract attention. The deteriorating situation in Somalia has led to its inclusion for the first time. It replaced Nepal, which remains widely featured throughout the Report.
Read the Foreign Secretary's speech at the launch
The Foreign Affairs Select Committee scrutinises the report in Parliament, taking evidence from Government Ministers, NGO community and the general public. The Report is distributed to the diplomatic community in London and sent to our overseas posts.
Further information
Foreign Affairs Select Committee
Read more about our work on human rights.
